DescriptionGriffis begins by retelling his encounter with Min Yong Ik, describing it as his first time meeting a Korean “in the flesh”. Griffis proceeds to explain the political situation in which Min Yong Ik was directly involved, as he explains the efforts of revolutionary Kim Ok Kiun. The "Korean Government" was a feudalistic system that vacillated between Chinese and Japanese influence. The current families in power, the Min family and the Li family, each had their own pro-Chinese/pro-Japanese affiliations, so conflict began to arise in Seoul after American favor began to tip towards Japan. Kim Ok Kiun, one of the first Koreans to embrace Western influence, desired independence for Korea. Kim’s coup took advantage of Chinese attention being placed on the Sino-French War, and the resulting conflict in Seoul led to a brief stint of power that would quickly be extinguished by Chinese forces. Kim would flee to Japan and later be assassinated in Shanghai, but his legacy would remain as a patriot with good (yet lofty) intentions for a Korean government.
NoteThis project was assisted by a grant from the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation, Seoul, Korea.
Name: Inventory to the William Elliot Griffis Collection (East Asia), 1859-1928
Detail: The items in this record are part of the William Elliot Griffis Collection. A finding aid with information about the contents of the collection is available online.
CollectionKorea letters and manuscripts in the William Elliot Griffis collection
Organization NameRutgers University. Libraries. Special Collections and University Archives
RightsThe organization that has made the Item available reasonably believes that the Item is not restricted by copyright or related rights, but a conclusive determination could not be made. Please refer to the organization that has made the Item available for more information. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use.